Altima Versus Accord
(Honda Accord: from $29,105)(Nissan Altima: from $24,520)If you just checked the sticker prices of these top of the line, best selling 6 cylinder family sedans you may be doing a double take. How is the MSRP of the Altima a whopping 5 grand less than the Accord? Are the wheels and seats optional? Well, they sort of are. You see, in order to option your Altima with leather, Bluetooth, a moonroof, navigation (which in itself ups the Accord's price to an eye watering $31,000 and change) and similar wheels you have to spend nearly the same amount of money by choosing some hefty Altima option packages.What is great about the Altima package is that it offers lead foots a less equipped V6 version that undercuts even the Hyundai Sonata 6 cylinder. If you want a V6 in your Accord you are forced to have leather which should pose a problem for vegetarians with a penchant for street racing. Just because you love animals doesn't mean you want a four cylinder, Honda. Come on, now.While styling appeals on a purely personal level, most would agree that the Altima is the real looker in this duo. While the Accord interior is also nice it is not up to the quality of previous generations. And there are far too many buttons on the dashboard. The Altima has far too much rental car quality plastic for a car that can be optioned past $30,000. While the interior is fine for an Altima that is ten grand less these things matter more when you are actually buying and not visiting the Alamo desk.Nissan parent company Renault knows how to fix this as they offer two interiors for different prices Clio subcompact over on the continent. One has soft touch plastics and interesting gauges, the other is made more for tourists in Ibiza with sturdy materials. Come on, Nissan. Even Ford is doing this with the Taurus.So what it really comes down to here is performance and smoothness. If you prefer a softer ride, pleasant but not choppy handling and a reliably sewing machine smooth V6 engine by all means pick the rather plebian looking Accord. If you actually match your wardrobe and love to hear the mechanical noise of a Z-car engine under the hood look no further than the Altima SR 3.5 V6. And besides, with that engine who needs leather, navigation or a mooroof?
(Honda Accord: from $29,105)
(Nissan Altima: from $24,520)
If you just checked the sticker prices of these top of the line, best selling 6 cylinder family sedans you may be doing a double take. How is the MSRP of the Altima a whopping 5 grand less than the Accord? Are the wheels and seats optional? Well, they sort of are. You see, in order to option your Altima with leather, Bluetooth, a moonroof, navigation (which in itself ups the Accord's price to an eye watering $31,000 and change) and similar wheels you have to spend nearly the same amount of money by choosing some hefty Altima option packages.
What is great about the Altima package is that it offers lead foots a less equipped V6 version that undercuts even the Hyundai Sonata 6 cylinder. If you want a V6 in your Accord you are forced to have leather which should pose a problem for vegetarians with a penchant for street racing. Just because you love animals doesn't mean you want a four cylinder, Honda. Come on, now.
While styling appeals on a purely personal level, most would agree that the Altima is the real looker in this duo. While the Accord interior is also nice it is not up to the quality of previous generations. And there are far too many buttons on the dashboard. The Altima has far too much rental car quality plastic for a car that can be optioned past $30,000. While the interior is fine for an Altima that is ten grand less these things matter more when you are actually buying and not visiting the Alamo desk.
Nissan parent company Renault knows how to fix this as they offer two interiors for different prices Clio subcompact over on the continent. One has soft touch plastics and interesting gauges, the other is made more for tourists in Ibiza with sturdy materials. Come on, Nissan. Even Ford is doing this with the Taurus.
So what it really comes down to here is performance and smoothness. If you prefer a softer ride, pleasant but not choppy handling and a reliably sewing machine smooth V6 engine by all means pick the rather plebian looking Accord. If you actually match your wardrobe and love to hear the mechanical noise of a Z-car engine under the hood look no further than the Altima SR 3.5 V6. And besides, with that engine who needs leather, navigation or a mooroof?
